- 1 Sacramento Kings vs Miami Heat: Acuff’s 26.1 against two of the league’s softest defenses
- 2 Sacramento Kings: 49.5 points a night from a rookie and LaVine, and a star who wants out
- 3 Miami Heat: Giannis at 30 and 12 in Los Angeles, with a sore right wrist to watch
- 4 Free NBA Prediction: Sacramento Kings vs Miami Heat
- 5 About our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About visuals
Sacramento Kings vs Miami Heat: Acuff’s 26.1 against two of the league’s softest defenses 
Darius Acuff Jr. is averaging 26.1 points in his first seven NBA games, and he’s led Sacramento in scoring in four of them. His 25 on Monday came in the Kings’ first win of the season, 115-100 in Dallas, after six straight defeats.
Miami is the next visitor to get a look at him, on Sunday 8 November at 9:00pm ET at Golden 1 Center, and the Heat haven’t given much reason to expect a quiet night. They’re allowing 123.9 points a game, just below Sacramento’s 124.3.
That shared weakness is the most useful way into this game. Sacramento has given up 136 to Memphis, 132 to New Orleans and 130 to San Antonio. Miami has allowed 138 to the Lakers, 131 to Minnesota and 128 to Detroit.
What separates them is the offense and the road form. Miami scores 118.1 a game to Sacramento’s 110.1, and the Heat put up 129 in Atlanta and 145 against Indiana in their only two wins.
Miami is 2-5 and Sacramento 1-6, and both have games to play before Sunday: the Heat at the Clippers on Wednesday and Golden State on Thursday, the Kings at home to the Lakers on Wednesday and San Antonio on Friday. Miami will have two days off, and Sacramento one.
Sacramento Kings: 49.5 points a night from a rookie and LaVine, and a star who wants out 
Acuff and Zach LaVine are scoring 49.5 of Sacramento’s 110.1 points between them. LaVine averages 23.4, and Malik Monk added 24 in Dallas, so the Kings do have perimeter scoring when all three are hitting.
The bigger story around the team is Domantas Sabonis. He’s averaging 15.0 points and 14.6 rebounds, yet reports this week say he wants to leave and the franchise would listen to offers. A trade before Sunday isn’t expected, but it hangs over a center who’s central to the defense.
The injury list makes that defense harder to fix. Keegan Murray is out with an ankle injury, Maxime Raynaud with a knee problem, and both are due for re-evaluation in early to mid-November. Ben Simmons won’t play this season after surgery on a torn right Achilles tendon.
Dylan Cardwell’s calf and Precious Achiuwa’s ankle have also been issues, though Achiuwa was probable for the Lakers game and he’s giving the Kings 6.6 rebounds. That leaves Sacramento short of size behind Sabonis, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is the next forward to test it.
Acuff’s scoring has come in bursts: 33 against Portland, 34 in New Orleans and 38 in Memphis, where Sacramento still lost by 31. LaVine’s best night was 37 against Memphis on 25 October, and the Kings lost that one by 11.
The home record is 0-2, with a 128-120 defeat to Portland and 123-112 to Memphis. Those are respectable scores, and Sacramento has shown more fight at Golden 1 Center than the 31-point loss in Memphis or the 27-point loss in San Antonio would suggest.
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Miami Heat: Giannis at 30 and 12 in Los Angeles, with a sore right wrist to watch 
Antetokounmpo had 30 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in a 138-117 loss to the Lakers on Monday. He averaged 28.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists on 55.7% shooting across his first four Miami games.
His wrist is the question for Sunday. He came down hard after a drive in that Lakers game and was listed as probable for the Clippers with a sprain of the right wrist. The Heat play twice more before this game, and he’s the player the whole plan runs through.
Antetokounmpo has scored 30 or more in four of Miami’s seven games: 35 against Minnesota, 36 against Detroit, 31 against Indiana and 30 against the Lakers.
Davion Mitchell has been the surprise. He averaged 18.0 points and 7.0 assists on 54% shooting and 45% from three through those first four games, and he’s the steadiest creator when Antetokounmpo is doubled.
Klay Thompson scored 19 against the Lakers after a slow start to the season, and Bam Adebayo added 16 after averaging 11.8 early on. Adebayo’s shooting is still a concern at 40% from the field, and Bobby Portis’s 8.0 rebounds off the bench matter with so many opponents attacking the glass.
Miami has lost five of seven, with defeats by 25 to Minnesota, 17 to Detroit and 21 to the Lakers. It also has a win at Atlanta and that 145-125 result over Indiana, and it’s 1-2 on the road, which is better than Sacramento’s 0-2 at home.
Probable lineup Sacramento Kings: Not announced at time of publication
Probable lineup Miami Heat: Not announced at time of publication
Free NBA Prediction: Sacramento Kings vs Miami Heat
Our prediction: Miami Heat to win
No lines were available when we filed, and I’d side with the road team here. Miami’s offense is eight points a game better, the two defenses are level, and Antetokounmpo faces a Kings frontcourt without Murray or Raynaud.
The obvious risk is the wrist. If Antetokounmpo misses this game, the pick weakens badly, and Acuff has been producing against everyone he’s faced. It’s worth checking the injury report before tip-off.
Rest tilts this slightly further. Miami gets two days after Golden State, while Sacramento plays a third game in five nights, and the Heat have the deeper list of healthy rotation players. Sacramento hasn’t won at home yet, and it’s given up 120-plus in six of its seven games.
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